Zion Williamson Trade Idea If Warriors Can't Land a 2025 All-Star at the Deadline

Desperation has found the Golden State Warriors ahead of the 2025 NBA trade deadline.

During a recent appearance onThe Pat McAfee Show, ESPN's Shams Charania said they're "calling about every All-Star player."

This list apparently extends beyond the 2025 All-Star player pool, including Zion Williamson, according to Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints.

Naturally, we are now obligated to see whether we can figure out a realistic way to land Zanos in The Bay—an undertaking that, in the current cap climate, invites us to construct a four-team extravaganza.

Full Trade Details

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 30: Zion Williamson #1 sits next to CJ McCollum on the bench during their game against the Golden State Warriors in the second half at Chase Center on October 30, 2024 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Detroit Pistons Receive

• CJ McCollum
• Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
• Chicago's 2025 second-rounder (top-55 protection, via Sacramento)

Golden State Warriors Receive*

• Zion Williamson

New Orleans Pelicans Receive

• Kyle Anderson
• Tobias Harris
• Jonathan Kuminga
• Dennis Schröder**
• Toronto's 2025 second-rounder (via Detroit)
• 2025 first-round pick (unprotected, via Golden State)
• 2027 first-round pick (top-seven protection, via Golden State)
• 2028 second-round pick (less favorable of Charlotte and Los Angeles Clippers, via Detroit)

Sacramento Kings Receive

• Kevon Looney (into non-taxpayer mid-level exception)
• Javonte Green (into minimum exception)
• Miami's 2025 second-round pick (top-37 protection, via Golden State)

*Golden State would be at 11 players and have to fill roster spots.

**Schröder cannot be aggregated until Feb. 5, so that's the earliest this deal can be done.

Why the Detroit Pistons Do It

Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 24: CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans and Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons talk after the game on March 24, 2024 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)

In: CJ McCollum, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Chicago's 2025 second (top-55 protection)

Out: Tobias Harris, Toronto's 2025 second, 2028 second-round pick (less favorable of Charlotte and L.A. Clippers)

Going from Harris to McCollum qualifies as both a talent and roster upgrade for the Pistons.

Jaden Ivey's absence has left a secondary ball-handling and scoring void. McCollum checks both boxes. He isn't the snazziest playmaker, but he can help run the offense when Cade Cunningham sits, and his shooting arsenal scales perfectly to lineups that slot him alongside Detroit's All-Star.

Bankrolling McCollum's $30.7 million salary in 2025-26 shouldn't faze the Pistons like it will other teams. It is only $4 million more than they have guaranteed to Harris, who has played substantially worse than McCollum over the past month-and-a-half or so.

Forking over two second-rounders (and taking on JRE's minimum salary) should be enough to adequately incentivize the Pelicans when looking at the rest of this deal. Detroit is using about $10.2 million of its $14 million in cap space and may need another forward ahead of the stretch run. Neither offshoot should be a deal-breaker. The Pistons are better after this trade, without having to compromise their short- or long-term cap sheet or give up any of their own picks or prospects.

Why the Golden State Warriors Do It

Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 30: Zion Williamson #1 of the New Orleans Pelicans loses the ball while being guarded by Draymond Green #23 and Jonathan Kuminga #00 of the Golden State Warriors in the second half at Chase Center on October 30, 2024 in San Francisco, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

In: Zion Williamson

Out: Kyle Anderson, Jonathan Kuminga, Kevon Looney, Dennis Schröder, 2025 first-round pick, Miami's 2025 second-round pick (top-37 protection), 2027 first-round pick (top-seven protection)

Shelling out picks and your highest-upside youngster for Zion is loaded with all sorts of risk. Of the 440 regular-season games the Pelicans have played since he entered the league, Williamson has appeared in just 198 of them—or 45 percent. This move could absolutely go sideways for the Warriors.

And yet, a checkered health bill is why Zion might be available at all. Teams don't deal away stars in their mid-20s for no good reason (unless, apparently, they're the Dallas Mavericks). At just 24, Zion arms the Warriors with someone capable of being their second-best offensive player now while building their bridge into a future beyond Stephen Curry. You cannot say the same about Kuminga or anybody else on the roster.

Dealing away two firsts, along with Kuminga, for someone who has played in just 14 games this season is nevertheless steep. But Golden State is retaining Andrew Wiggins and getting off the final two years of Anderson's contract. And if the Zion experiment goes belly up, the non-guarantees baked into his contract safeguard the organization against the worst-case scenarios.

Spacing and size will be a concern as part of the Williamson-Draymond Green frontcourt. What else is new? The Warriors are intimately familiar with playing two non-shooters up front. Zion's on- and off-ball rim pressure also transcends cramped confines—and is a functional element Golden State has not housed at any point in recent history.

With just 11 players under contract, the Warriors will have to hustle in the aftermath of this deal to reach the league's mandate of 14. They're shaving another $700,000 off their payroll, which might give them enough room under the first apron to convert Quinten Post and sign a pro-rated veteran minimum. But they may need to make subsequent moves that increase flexibility or bring back two players for one.

Why the New Orleans Pelicans Do It

Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images

NEW ORLEANS, LA - JANUARY 7: Zion Williamson #1 and CJ McCollum #3 of the New Orleans Pelicans look on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 7, 2025 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE(Photo by Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images)

In: Kyle Anderson, Tobias Harris, Jonathan Kuminga, Dennis Schröder, Golden State's 2025 first-round pick, Toronto's 2025 second-round pick, Golden State's 2027 first-round pick (top-seven protection), 20228 second-round pick (less favorable of Charlotte and Los Angeles Clippers, via Detroit)

Out: CJ McCollum, Javonte Green, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl, Zion Williamson

Starting completely over has never looked more palatable for the Pelicans. Injuries long ago torpedoed their season, and Dejounte Murray's ruptured right Achilles tendon threatens to submarine next year, too.

Two first-round picks and Kuminga seem like a pittance for Zion. But his value is indiscernible when considering his forever-in-question health. This return beefs up New Orleans' draft cupboard while shaving $19.5 million in immediate payroll. Plus, Golden State's 2025 first may end up in the lottery, and a 2027 pick from any team tightly tethered to Zion's availability carries real mystique, as New Orleans knows all too well.

Taking on Harris (one year, $26.6 million remaining after 2024-25) and Anderson (two years, $18.9 million) is not ideal. But they combine to earn $34.4 million less than McCollum and Zion in 2025-26. That should give the Pelicans flexibility to hash out new contracts for Kuminga (restricted) and, if they so choose, Brandon Ingram while remaining under luxury tax.

Finer points of this framework can be recalibrated. The Pelicans can hang onto Green (playing well for them). They can try expanding the terms to get expiring money instead of Anderson. They can ask the Warriors to loosen 2027 protections and/or include a 2026 swap. As currently constructed, though, it should not be considered laughable. It is, at the very least, a viable starting point.

Why Sacramento Kings Do It

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SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 22: Kevon Looney #5 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket during the game against the Sacramento Kings on January 22, 2025 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images)

In: Javonte Green, Kevon Looney, Miami's 2025 second-round pick (top-37 protection)

Out: Chicago's 2025 second-rounder (top-55 protection)

Sacramento may have more ambitious plans for its $10.5 million in wiggle room beneath the luxury tax. But aiming bigger probably requires them to move one or more of the first-round picks they just received in the De'Aaron Fox trade. That's a rickety approach before seeing what the team looks like on the heels of a seismic face-lift.

Looney can deliver solid backup-big minutes behind Domantas Sabonis, and Green continues to provide spot defense across the 2, 3 and 4 positions while shooting north of 35 percent from deep for the fourth consecutive season. Both come off the books after this year, so the Kings aren't saddling themselves with any big-picture commitments, either.

Adding two players who can crack the current rotation and bagging a second-rounder in the process is pretty good business. Even getting Looney alone should be considered good enough if the Pelicans blanch at jettisoning Green.

Potentially helping out a conference rival in the Warriors is the only downside. But Zion's availability isn't nearly dependable enough for the Kings to feel materially threatened by what Golden State becomes as a result of this trade.

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Dan Favale covers the NBA for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter (@danfavale), and subscribe to the Hardwood Knocks podcast, co-hosted by Bleacher Report's Grant Hughes.

Unless otherwise cited, stats courtesy of NBA.com, Basketball Reference, Stathead or Cleaning the Glass. Salary information via Spotrac. Draft-pick obligations via RealGM.